The purpose of this chapter is to regulate and control the construction,
installation, extension, service connection and operation of the Township
water system, to implement the Township's responsibilities and
obligations to the City of Midland under the agreement by which Midland
Township acquires water from the City of Midland to serve the Township
water service area, to prescribe procedures for establishing and collecting
charges for public water service and to provide penalties for the
violation of such regulations and this chapter.
When used in this chapter, the following terms shall be construed
as defined in this section, unless a different definition shall be
adopted for any article of this chapter:
The City of Midland, Bay and Midland Counties, Michigan,
a municipal corporation.
The duly appointed officer of the city, or his authorized
representative.
The public water supply, treatment and distribution system
owned and operated by the City of Midland as it now or may hereafter
exist.
A connection or arrangement of piping or appurtenances through
which backflow could occur.
A point of connection for water service to a premises.
The district created by resolution of the Township Board
on June 16, 1999, for the purpose of constructing certain water system
improvements.
Midland Township, Midland County, Michigan.
The area within the identified service area on Exhibit A
attached hereto.[1]
The public water distribution system owned by the Township
and lying entirely within the Township water service area.
That part of the customer's water supply system extending
from the curb box into the premises served and ending at the water
meter.
That portion of the water distribution system lying in the
public right-of-way and of a size adequate to serve more than one
customer.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Township water service area is on file
in the Township offices.
All water mains shall be installed in public rights-of-way.
However, where it is deemed necessary by the Township Board that certain
water mains be installed on private property, the property owner shall
grant an easement to the Township for the purposes of construction,
inspection and maintenance of water mains.
Every dwelling, building or structure furnished Township water
shall have its own water connection. Duplex residences, townhouses
or apartments shall have separate meter connections installed for
each dwelling unit.
A.ย
Cross-connection of the Township water system with any other water
supply system shall not be permitted.
B.ย
The Township hereby adopts by reference Water Supply Cross-Connection
Rules of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Mich Admin
Code, R 325.11401 through R 325.11407.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
C.ย
It shall be the duty of the city and/or Township to cause inspections
to be made of all properties served by the Township water system where
cross-connections are deemed possible. The frequency of inspections
and reinspections based on potential health hazards involved shall
be as established by the city and as approved by the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
D.ย
The city and/or Township shall have the right to enter, at any reasonable
time, any property serviced by connection to the Township water system
for the purpose of inspecting the piping system or systems thereof
for cross-connections. On request, the owner, lessee or occupants
of any property so served shall furnish to the inspection agency any
pertinent information regarding the piping system or systems on such
property.
E.ย
The refusal of such information or refusal of access, when requested,
shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the presence of cross-connections.
F.ย
The city is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue water service
after reasonable notice to any property wherein any cross-connection
or other violation of this section exists, and to take other precautionary
measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination
of the Township water system. Water service to such property shall
not be restored until the water connection or cross-connection has
been eliminated.
G.ย
Potable supply made available on the properties served by the public
water supply shall be protected from possible contamination as specified
by this section and by the State and Township Plumbing Codes.
H.ย
This section does not supersede the State Plumbing Code or the Township
Plumbing Code, but shall be considered supplementary to them.
Water connection to individual structure may be installed upon
the completion of the water application form and appropriate fees
have been paid.
Permission to construct a water extension shall be implied with
the purchase of each water connection.
There shall be no branches or connections off the water extension
pipe connecting the curb box with the water meter.
Every dwelling, building or structure furnished Township water
shall have its own water meter and shutoff valves located inside the
building.
Customers shall provide a suitable place for meter installation.
No person other than an authorized employee of the city shall
break or injure the seal on, or change the location of, or alter or
interfere in any way with any water meter. All meters are property
of the city.
Whenever any portion of the Township water system is damaged
or injured because of any act of negligence or accident, the expense
of the Township and/or city caused thereby will be charged to and
collected from the owner, occupant or person responsible. Such charges
may be made in the same manner as other water charges.
No person other than an authorized employee of the city or the
Township shall turn on or off any water service, except that a licensed
plumber may turn on a water service for testing an extension system,
after which the plumber shall immediately turn the water service off.